Encephalomyocarditis virus mortality in semi-wild bonobos (Pan panicus)

Abstract

Together, these findings confirm that EMCV was responsible for deaths of the two bonobos. Strict separation of bonobos in particular and captive primates in general from potential sources of EMCV contamination should be maintained to prevent mortality caused by EMCV.

Retrospective genetic characterisation of Encephalomyocarditis viruses from African elephant and swine recovers two distinct lineages in South Africa

“…Whereas numerous strains have been isolated and characterised globally from outbreaks in domestic pigs (Maurice et al 2005) and from putative murid rodent hosts in close proximity (Billinis 2009), reports of the disease in wild and exotic animals are sporadic and generally limited to captive populations in North America, Australia and Europe and their associated rodent populations (Wells et al 1989;Redacliff et al 1997;Canelli et al 2010). In contrast, Africa is the only continent from which outbreaks of the disease have been reported from a population of semi-wild primates (Jones et al 2011) or from a natural population of elephants (Grobler et al 1995). It is also the origin of one of the first EMC virus isolates, viz.…”

“…Reports of clinical EMC and of genomic characterisation of cardioviruses from Africa and southern Africa in particular (Dick 1949, Williams 1981, Grobler et al 1995, Jones et al 2011, are rare. Whereas numerous strains have been isolated and characterised globally from outbreaks in domestic pigs (Maurice et al 2005) and from putative murid rodent hosts in close proximity (Billinis 2009), reports of the disease in wild and exotic animals are sporadic and generally limited to captive populations in North America, Australia and Europe and their associated rodent populations (Wells et al 1989;Redacliff et al 1997;Canelli et al 2010).…”

“…Clinical outcomes range from inapparent, to acute and highly lethal infections (Thomson et al 2001). Aside from outbreaks in pigs (Knowles et al 1998;Maurice et al 2005;Denis et al 2006), sporadic outbreaks are recorded in zoos and invariably affect a wide range of species (Reddacliff et al 1997, Canelli et al 2010, however, primates and elephants appear to be particularly susceptible (Simpson et al 1977, Tesh & Wallace 1978, Seaman & Finnie 1987, Jones et al 2011. Murids are generally considered to be the virus reservoir hosts (Zimmerman 1994, Thomson et al, 2001), but a possible role for wild boars in the epidemiology of the disease in domestic pigs in Europe, has been suggested (Billinis 2009).…”

“…Similarly, the 3D gene, encoding the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNA replicase), is often used for molecular epidemiology studies (Vanderhallen & Koenen 1998;Koenen et al, 1999;Denis et al 2006;Jones et al 2011), and is the best-represented gene in the GenBank database, with sequences for more than 60 strains, predominantly from swine, presently available.…”

“…Although EMC has an essentially worldwide distribution, the molecular characterisation of viruses primarily corresponds to pig isolates from Europe, Asia and America. Data from Africa is limited to isolates from rhesus macaques, sampled in Uganda in the 1940s and to an isolate from a semi-wild bonobo in the Democratic Republic of Congo, sampled in 2009 (Jones et al 2011). van Sandwyk, et al, Veterinary Microbiology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2012 4 EMC outbreaks are rarely recognised in southern Africa, however, two outbreaks affecting domestic and wildlife species have been documented in South Africa (Williams, 1981, Grobler et al 1995.…”